The news that the NBA is going lay off nine percent of its work force shouldn't be surprising. Many business, including this one, are going through cutbacks that are painful and difficult.

Eventually this was going to hit sports, and I wondered when that day would come. People will not have the same disposable income to spend on tickets. Sponsorship deals will be more difficult to find. Companies might have trouble meeting the stadium naming rights obligations.

In the past, Enron Field lost its name when Enron folded. But that happened during the bubble, when if one company failed there were others waiting to step in. Now, it seems, everyone is suffering.

Take it a step further to the lifeblood of sports - television. Will companies be able to advertise as they have been for years? Auto companies are hurting badly, and their ad money may dry up. Or at least slow down.

If times are as tough as we are all told, if this really is a "crisis," it will spread to sports. It makes no sense to cry wolf, because sports won't go away. And it's hard to feel sorry for a team losing one or two sponsors when people are losing their jobs. But at some point the economics of the country will have an effect on the economics of sports. When the NBA lays off nearly nine percent of its employees - wouldn't you think a league like the NBA could afford to absorb losses through givebacks rather than costing people jobs? - it seems to be a signal.

The question is when the full impact hits the sport economy, and how strong the blow.

Meanwhile …

Rick Reilly, a gem of a writer, recently covered the problems John Lynch is having as he adjusts to retirement. Lynch, like Reilly, was excellent at his craft, and is a very good guy.

The story nearly makes you cry.

Lynch doesn't know what to do with himself during the day after he drops himself off from school. He's so bored he's thinking of making trips to He had to actually PAY a cell phone bill instead of having a sponsorship deal cover it for free. He no longer gets a NEW CAR every 3,000 miles, and Saks does not give him a $2,500 suit every week to do a TV show.

Talk about heart-rendering.

I'm not sure about you, but any of this stuff would be enough to make me regurgitate my Wheaties. NO FREE CAR????? How does a man make ends meet. Perhaps we should hold a "Canned Food Drive for John Lynch" event at the next Browns home game. Everyone who brings a can saves a dollar on the $8 beer.

This emotional situation with Lynch is real, no doubt. He feels what he feels. And he's always been a guy who's done a lot of work for charity and been very involved with the community where he played. But it just seems out of line with any real or ordinary thought process to feel for a guy who has made so much money he does not even have to work when our neighbors, our friends, our relatives are losing their jobs. Think about it - this guy worries about paying a cell phone bill for the first time in who knows how long while the guy around the corner saw his retirement money cut in half three years before he's about to retire.

Is it any wonder that sometimes the world of pro sports has its own orbit in the stratosphere?

First and 10

1)      There's no logical reason to say this, but I expect the Giants to get the Browns at their best Monday night. Again, there's no logic to it, except that it's do or die time for the Browns.

2)      The Browns are healthier than they've been in a long time, they're at home, it's Monday night, it's time to make something of this season, it's October, an even-numbered year and the stock market continues to crash. Is it not time for something, for one little thing, to go right?

3)      So perhaps that's a false hope. The Giants are undefeated at 4-0, coming off a big win. But … thare are traveling for a Monday night game (Hey … gotta reach for any straw here right?) The Browns absolutely have to win the game if this season is to amount to anything. And if the Browns win they'll be able to say they are back in the AFC North and the AFC playoff hunt - even if technically they're just on the periphery. If ever the Browns are going to bow up and do something, if they are going to man up, if they are going to be a real team, this Monday night is the time.

4)      One guy does not make an offensive line, but it sure seems like the Browns are hoping that Ryan Tucker can play Monday night. Tucker is a mean, gnarly player who brings some toughness to the group. And he can play either tackle or guard, depending on the health of Kevin Shaffer (concussion).

5)      If Tucker comes back at tackle, he'll have his hands full. The Giants ends rush the passer like crazy. But if Tucker comes back, he and Rex Hadnot could be a very physical right side of the line in the running game, which we all know is the main thing the Browns need if they are to get untracked.

6)      Will someone please put a sock in Jonathan Papelbon?

7)      It was good to hear Romeo Crennel say this of the practices during the bye week: "I put a big emphasis on penalties, I talked to the guys hard about penalties. I gave them some stats and showed them some things on how it impacts us and that we need to do a better job with it." NFL penalties are really getting ridiculous, and the Browns have been ridiculously adept at the silly penalty.

8)      Given the Giants pass rush, Rob Chudzinski's game plan becomes vital this week. New York is tied for second in the league with 15 sacks, and they go after the quarterback with abandon. This means three things: The Browns need to run the ball, they need to use a quick passing game, and they need to keep adequate protection for their quarterback.

9)      And … if Derek Anderson struggles and Brady Quinn has a good week of practice, they need to not be afraid to go to Quinn and move the pocket a little. This is about winning the game, not making sure feelings are soothed. The Browns need to do everything humanly possible to win the stinking game.

10)  Speaking of Quinn, the one thing that nobody seems to discuss during all this "send Anderson to the Falkland Islands" outcry is that none of us have seen Quinn in practice since preseason ended. The Browns practices are closed, so how in the world do we know how Quinn is handling things? The answer: We don't. For all we know, one reason the Browns are reluctant to go to Quinn is he may not be forcing the issue in the limited practice time he's getting. That's a theory at least.

Three and Out

Dear Pat,

I know it's early, but is it even possible to think that the Browns MIGHT be in a position to draft Ray Maulagula? And if in position to draft him do you think they would?

I'm just a fan, in Phoenix no less, and think the impact of a kid like Maulagula could make a huge difference on the defense.

I think the expectations exceeded the talent of the team this year. They had a good year last year but still only have a foundation to build on, not necessarily catapult them to the forefront yet.  The Browns are exactly who I thought they were.  The schedule is tough this year but they're not going to get any better playing against the Little Sisters of Mercy.

Here's hoping they step up…

Luis Till

Phoenix, AZ

Dear Luis,

A few years back Phil Savage was coming from the Notre Dame-USC game, and a few of us mentioned that that kid Reggie Bush was pretty good.

"Oh boy, I hope we're not picking high enough to take him," Savage said.

Because it would mean the Browns were among the worst teams in the league.

Same with this Maulagula guy.

He's so good that if the Browns have a chance to draft him it means they were really, really, really bad. Like 2-14 bad. Or Oakland Raiders bad. Because he's one of the best players in the country and he will go in the top three of the draft, perhaps first.

As nice as he would look on the Browns defense - and he would look fabulous - I'm not sure fans would feel very good suffering through a completely brutal season to acquire him.

Dear Pat,

Have you noticed in the NFL that helmets are coming off a lot when someone is tackling or being tackled?  Aside from the metaphorical implications, are chin straps being made more cheaply?

Joe Curry

Youngstown

Dear Joe,

Word has it that Congress is debating a chin-strap manufacturer bailout plan as we speak

Dear Pat,

Thank goodness for the Bengals, but one look at the next five games after the bye week and the Browns had better hope they have their swagger back.

How about the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, and Denver Broncos? Can you say 1-8? Ouch!!!

Mark Richardson

Dear Mark,

How does one get something back he never had in the first place?

I mean, what right did the Browns have to even think they had a swagger?

Was there a playoff appearance that I missed last year?

Here's the bottom line for the Browns: Forget the schedule, forget the swagger, forget everything except this fact - just go win the game.

(Want to be recognized in "Three and Out"? It's a rare treat. Comment here or send an e-mail to pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com, and put "First and 10" in the subject line)

First and 10

1)      Perspective is an amazing thing. Driving North on I-71 Sunday night, the Cincinnati talk shows were abuzz about the Bengals falling to 0-4. The feeling: How in the world could they lose to the Browns? One announcer said, "I know we had the backup quarterback playing, but we should have beat that team." Said another: "Of the four losses this is the worst. The Browns are awful." Terrible, awful, you name it. From Cincinnati's perspective that was a brutally embarrassing loss. But watching the Browns as they left the field, there was nothing but relief. Smiles and relief. In Cleveland, a win mattered. In Cincinnati, it was a traumatic loss that led to sour chili.

2)      A few years back the Browns had one of those terrible losses and I was talking to a head coach in the league who marveled how bad the Browns had been beat. Who's next, he asked? Cincinnati, I said. Ah, those Bengals, he said. They always seem to come at the right time. Apparently the rule still applies.

3)      If Derek Anderson was not pulled from that game after that first half and that start to the third quarter, it's safe to say that it might take an act of the World Court to get Brady Quinn into a game in a non-injury, non-blowout situation. In truth, Romeo Crennel never really said last week that he was leaning toward replacing Anderson. He said Anderson would start and the team would get Quinn ready. Well getting Quinn ready meant Quinn got two extra snaps in the week of practice, according to Fox's Jay Glazer. This pretty much seems to be Anderson's team - at least as long as the Browns have any lingering playoff hopes.

4)      Eric Steinbach had a shoulder separation/sprain/bruise/weakness and was not expected to play. He did. Kevin Shaffer played with a cast on his hand. So did Shaun Smith. Which made me wonder about Donte Stallworth missing his fourth game with a quad pull. Crennel explained that his recovery was on time, that team doctors said Stallworth would need 2 ½-to-4 weeks to recover. It's kind of a shame this timetable wasn't released when Stallworth was hurt. It might have ended a lot of speculation.

5)      Braylon Edwards really is turning a lot of people off this season. As much as they were behind him a year ago, they are starting to turn on him this season. Edwards' $1 million donation to Cleveland school kids remains one of the more selfless acts of the past couple years. But his air-guitar routine after his touchdown catch was just a bit much to most people. I really don't blame anyone. It was Edwards' first touchdown. The Browns were struggling like mad to get by a winless team using its backup quarterback. Edwards is paid to catch touchdown catches. Yet Stevie Ray Braylon did his air guitar. Talk about lame.

6)      And … how did he avoid a penalty when Terrell Owens was penalized in the opener for taking a sprinter's stance. The official said Owens went to the ground. Well, so did Braylon Bon Jovi.

7)      Edwards also was quite vocal as he pranced off the field after the game, arms aloft and whooping almost the entire way. He yelled some drivel about something or other, and bounded into the locker room as if he had caught 18 passes for 327 yards and three TDs. I guess a guy can be excited after a game … but … you wonder if some of his teammates wanted to stick his shoes in his ears as he yelled and screamed his way into the locker room.

8)      Then again, it's not just him. Alex Hall celebrated his late sack and forced fumble with a fervor rarely seen in the Queen City. And on Monday night football every tackle is treated as if it just solved the economic crisis. How about just acting professionally? Once? Can a play just end without some sort of histrionics?

9)      I used to think that no waterfront could rival Cleveland's for wasted space. The lakefront downtown may be the biggest wasteland this side of Mad Max. Then there's Cincinnati. Two stadiums right on the river. Land that could be used for a great public park goes to stadiums. The rest is a concrete mess. Good to know Ohio has bookend wasted areas at the Northern and Southern extremes of the state. Oh … that drive on I-71 from Cleveland to Cincinnati? Now THAT's a thrill-a-minute route. Yeah, yeah, yeah … I'm too dadgum negative.

10)   With the score 3-3 Sunday, the Bengals PA system blared out "Here for the Party" by Gretchen Wilson. What a party that game was. After, Edwards danced off the field and said he'd do the exact same ridiculous play he was penalized for next time around. And Derek Anderson told Peter King of SI.com that the Browns "got their swagger back." If that game returns a swagger then it's time to start following beach volleyball more closely. There's a lot to be said for getting a win, and that should not be minimized. But there's also a lot to be said for being real, and the Browns, as their coach said, have a long way to go.

Three and Out

Dear Pat,

In your blog, you wrote: "At times I really wonder what ever happened to the quality of NFL football. The play that qualifies as professional really is lacking. I know. The Browns won."

That game was so ripe, I had to download load it on a DVD, double wrap it and put it out to the curb. One raccoon got into it, but vomited and immediately expired.

Ed

Columbiana

Dear Ed,

Great letter!

I tried the same thing as you, just to see what happened. Took a DVD of the game and put it on the curb. All night long folks walking dogs had to stop so they could raise their legs to relieve themselves on it (the dogs were raising their legs, by the way, not the humans, though that is a funny mental image). Eventually, raccoons, cats, possums, skunks, badgers, buffalo and the occasional giraffe and stork were lined up to let loose.

Dear Pat,

Howdy.

Anyone who was really watching this team last year, who they played and the way they won should have had doubts. Until some team proves me wrong, you ultimately win with defense. Fans fell in love with a supposed high octane offense and forgot we have a mediocre defense. Adding tonnage to the defensive line does not change that.

Pressure on the quarterback is the name of the game. Just look at what has happened to us, and we have no one putting any pressure on the opposing offense. This is supposedly Romeo's specialty; he has had four years to get it right, tell Savage what kind of players he needs, and it hasn't happened.

Remember I told you Savage had little confidence in Romeo when he took the job. I see nothing that says he has the right guy. Until they change it, everything else is hard to evaluate.

Kyle St. Peter

St. Louis

Dear Kyle,

Howdy-doo.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Romeo Crennel is a realist who knows he has to win to keep his job. But today Phil Savage pretty much made it clear he's not in favor of a major in-season overhaul.

Seems best if fans would accept the fact that Crennel is the coach and Derek Anderson the quarterback, and just see what happens.

I mean, it's not like they're going to struggle to beat a winless team playing a backup quarterback, is it?

Dear Pat,

How would you rate the job Phil Savage has done? A team playing this bad can't simply be the head coach calling bad timeouts or not being emotional enough. This team lacks talent on defense and its highly rated offensive line looks suspect. How many of Phil Savage's draft picks are in the NFL? His picks from the third round on have been shaky.  It takes more than drafting first-round picks right to build a team. Oops … looks like they haven't done that right either, (Kamerion Wimbley).

You can fire the head coach, and should fire the head coach, but this ORGANIZATION looks weak to me.

Eric

Dear Eric,

There's plenty of responsibility to be shared here. But - -WARNING: Here comes the ridiculous pollyana optimism at all costs statement - San Diego started 1-3 last season and made the playoffs.

As for Phil Savage's drafts, let's take a look:

2008 - The Browns will say this draft "produced" Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams. Whatever.

2007 - Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald. Not bad.

2006 - Kamerion Wimbley, D'Qwell Jackson, Leon Williams and Lawrence Vickers are left. You know, Vickers alone makes this group a good one. This guy is developing into a fierce fullback, a guy who destroys people when blocking and can run and catch as well. He's a very underrated and unnoticed sixth-round pick.

2005 - Kamerion Wimbley and a bunch of flotsam.

I shall let you judge.

(Want to be recognized in "Three and Out"? It's a rare treat. Comment here or send an e-mail to pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com, and put "First and 10" in the subject line)

At one point during the Browns oh-so-exciting win over the Bengals, an e-mailer sent a colleague a note in the press box that watching that game was like "watching a cactus grow."

Boy was it.

The Browns did not play well in their win, but they won, and that's what they needed. Boy did they. Because a loss to an 0-and-3 team with its backup quarterback playing would have been catastrophic and, yes, time to ponder what to do with the stadium once the team was disbanded.

There were silly penalties, silly mistakes, silly Putty and silliness in general, but there was a win.

"All games aren't going to be pretty," Braylon Edwards said. "There's not going to be 30 or 40 points scored or DA throws for 400 yards. You fight until the whistle blows and that's what we did."

In Edwards' case, he once fought until after the whistle blew, with a ridiculous block late in a play that drew a penalty. But he fought, catching the go-ahead touchdown and then celebrating it with some air-guitar routine before dancing off the field and into the locker room with both arms raised as if he had caught 18 passes for 371 yards. This illustrates two things: Edwards still doesn't really "get it," and the relief that the Browns felt from just winning was enormous.

"We don't care how it looks, how it gets done, we want to put Ws in the column," Edwards said. "The more Ws we get the better chance we have of being what everybody knows we can be."

In all honesty, we're still not sure what the Browns can be yet. We may think they have a chance at the playoffs, but they have a tough run of Giants on Monday night followed by a road game in Washington followed by a road game in Jacksonville. That's three tough games. But at least the Browns can go into those games off a win. Because even if it's an ugly win, it's at least a win.

Some thoughts -

–Romeo Crennel finally detailed that Donte Stallworth's injury was projected as a 2 1/2 -to-4 week injury, and that Stallworth is returning in that time frame. Too, Eric Steinbach said he never had a separated shoulder, just a shoulder sprain.

–The Browns again put Joshua Cribbs in the backfield. He took a shotgun snap and ran. The Bengals pretty much stuffed the play. One of these times the Browns need to have Cribbs throw, because everyone is expecting Cribbs to throw.

–After Derek Anderson went 4-for-10 for 27 yards in the first half, I'd have made the switch to Brady Quinn to start the second half. Romeo Crennel didn't. And finally his players backed him up by coming through after one of his decisions.

–How best to describe this game? Buffoonery. Lots of buffoonery.

–The Browns exulted at running the ball, but Jamal Lewis gained just 43 yards on 19 carries after gaining 36 on his first six.

–At times I really wonder what ever happened to the quality of NFL football. The play that qualifies as professional really is lacking. I know. The Browns won.

A couple quotes:

Derek Anderson on Romeo Crennel not pulling him: "I'm never going to quit on him. I'm going to put in the work and keep fighting no matter the situation."

Anderson: "It was obviously a frustrating week. To go 0-and-3 in games we had a chance in and the expectations we put on ourselves, it's frustrating. During the week we had a good Wednesday practice. Thursday got better. Friday was good. I thought guys mentally were helping each other in practice. You could tell that the attitude of everybody had changed. Not that it was bad before, but things were starting to come together for us."

Mike Adams on Carson Palmer not playing: "I was looking for two picks and I only got one. I needed Carson Palmer."

Joshua Cribbs: "It almost put tears in my eyes to see us play as a team - a complete team."

Ya know … there's really nothing to add to that.

I am hereby suspending all blog activity until the crisis in Berea is solved.

HEY … it's a joke!

The more one thinks (note the imperial ‘one') the more it seems nearly irrelevant who plays quarterback on Sunday in Cincinnati. That's because the Bengals' run defense is dismal and this is the weekend to get the running game going. That, after all, is the quarterback's best friend. Well, that and the trade of the starter after the season's opening game. But the best thing that can happen for the Browns, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn would be for Jamal Lewis to get the ball at least 25 times in Cincinnati. Lewis ran for 308 yards in the two games against Cincinnati last season. The Bengals have not exactly improved on defense this year.

A year ago the Browns used the downfield threat to spread the field and then run the ball. Throw to get ahead, run to win. That kind of thing. Well this season things can be reversed. Use the run to bring the safeties up, then hit them with the pass in the right circumstance and situation. Keep the offense out of third-and-long. Give the quarterback an advantage. Let Anderson or Quinn or Josh Cribbs or David Mays or whoever play in that kind of circumstance and any should be able to win the game. Which, after all, is the point. Win the stupid game.

That's what I'd do at least. If I were not suspending all football-coaching activity until the Japanese beetle crisis is solved.

Item: Romeo Crennel announced that Derek Anderson will start Sunday in Cincinnati.

I tried to make this clear yesterday (cough, cough). Anderson has always been the choice of the coach and his staff.

If nothing else, Crennel is loyal. In this case, I think he made the right decision. Anderson has been working with the starters since the beginning of camp, and there still is a (slim) chance to salvage the season. Going to Quinn might help, but it's more likely to lead to the usual struggles inexperience brings. No, Anderson is not a grizzled veteran. No, he's not played well. But he's had a lot of company in that regard. And if the entire team improves and plays like it can, then Anderson's play will not be such a big, red, sore thumb. However, the goal is winning on Sunday, not making sure all feelings are soothed. This leash should be short, and the Browns should not hesitate to make a change if it seems a change will help win the game. But starting Anderson is the right thing to do.

Said Crennel of Anderson:“He said he needs to play better and that is the thing that we are focusing on going into this game is trying to get him to play better.”

OK then. Evidently the straight-talk express now resides in Berea.

Item: I don't get Jim Brown.

Well I do. Brown is a man who will always say what he thinks, whether people like it or not. He will not be cowed, slowed or influenced by anyone. When he's asked a question, he answers. And that really is a good thing.

But I don't get how his comments Tuesday help anything.

Brown spoke on an internet radio show and pretty much ridiculed Anderson.

"Ive been in meetings all day," Brown said. "I've met with coach, the president of the organizatino, team captains, individual players — we all seem to be in one accord. But it's up to the coach to make the final decision on his lineup this week, but if he makes the right decision on the lineup I think we can be out of this terrible slump we're in."

Item: Now Shaun Rogers missed practice with a shoulder problem.

But he's expected to play Sunday. Othes who missed include LB Kris Griffin, S Sean Jones, LB Willie McGinest, Rogers, TE Martin Rucker and G Eric Steinbach. WRs Braylon Edwards and Donte Stallworth were limited.

First and 10

1)      I'm of the understanding that Derek Anderson starts Sunday's game in Cincinnati. Not a lot of thought at all to starting Brady Quinn. I don't know what the leanings are if Anderson falters, so we'll see what happens. But the Browns aren't really going into this game with the idea that Anderson will falter.

2)      I'm also of the understanding that though nobody is happy with the way the Browns are playing, Romeo Crennel's job is not in danger.

3)      Nobody seems to like that fact. But it's a fact. Cleveland sure seems to be a town that turns in a hurry. Either that or the angry minority is very vocal. There's no justifying the way the Browns have played, and I won't try. But changing the coach is not going to make them play better just because he's changed. Yes, there were some questionable field goal decisions in the first few games, and yes at times Crennel's lack of emotion works against him. But the Browns did have a good first half Sunday. The game turned on two Derek Anderson interceptions, both plays coming from standout Ravens defenders (Ed Reed and Ray Lewis). Some might argue that at times like these, when everyone is smelling blood and crying foul, the calm, same-as-ever approach of Crennel might come in handy. That approach helped after the opener last season when everyone (including me) was screaming and yelling. Maybe it will help this season. We shall see.

4)      As for Anderson starting over Brady Quinn, this statement to me seems to make it evident why Crennel will go with Anderson. Referring to Quinn, Crennel said: "If we decided to go with him, we'd just have to put it on the fact that what we've seen in practice and what we feel that he's able to do because there's no hard evidence that he would have success." That's not exactly a ringing endorsement that changing the quarterback will help win the game. And that is the idea - winning the game on Sunday. Based on that statement, it seems that the only reason the Browns would change the quarterback would be because they can.

5)      If the Browns win Sunday in Cincinnati (HEY … stop laughing) they have a bye week to then get healthy and get their bearings back. Then they play the Giants, at home, on a Monday night. Tough game. Very tough game. But if they somehow win the Browns will be 2-3, which is pretty much at or near where they were expected to be. First comes Cincinnati, though, and the Browns absolutely, positively, without a doubt must win to have any hope of salvaging a season.

6)      Since 1990, ninety teams have started 0-3. Three of those teams made the playoffs. That's 3.3 percent. Which means the Browns have a 3.3 percent chance of making the playoffs. Not high, but somebody has to be in that 3.3 percent, right?

7)      OK, someday the cow might actually jump over the moon. But don't the Browns have to think that way? Yes, this may be Pollyanna, rose-colored glasses and all that … especially given some of the opinions I've stated on this team. But it's hard to believe the Browns are actually as bad as they've looked, and it's hard to believe they will not play a good game at some point this season.

8)      Jamal Lewis had a valid complaint about not running the ball enough in Baltimore, but that game plan in no way equates to the one last season in Cincinnati when the Browns threw 49 times in swirling winds. Let's look at the facts. Up 10-7, the Browns took the second half kickoff and threw three short passes in a row - the third turned into an interception thanks to Ray Lewis' hit. The short passing game worked in the first half; it led to the lead. But Lewis' hit forced a turnover that led to Baltimore taking a 14-10 lead. The Browns then ran once, threw incomplete once on a short pass and at third-and-6 Anderson threw his worst pass of the day, the Ed Reed interception. Baltimore led 21-10. The Browns then ran Jamal Lewis for nine yards and Lewis for three and a first down. At this point, the game was very winnable. But Braylon Edwards made a ridiculous block in the back that negated the first down. A delay followed, which made it second-and-13, then third-and-13. They passed, then punted, then Mike Adams gave the Ravens 15 yards with a ridiculous personal foul, which gave them a short field to take a 28-10 lead. At that point, the Browns turned to the pass. But … when the game was close there were runs called. It's just that the Browns did foolish things when they did get positive gains and they could not sustain any kind of drive, which will limit the number of runs. This was not a case of bad play-calling, but bad playing, and that did the Browns in.

9)      That being said, if ever a week called for a team to return to bread-and-butter basics, this is it. The Bengals run defense is actually worse than the Browns. Cincinnati is giving up 174.3 yards per game, 4.7 yards per carry. The Giants ran for 117 yards, Tennessee for 177 and Baltimore for 229. If the Browns want to regain their offensive footing, this is the week to go back to pounding Lewis up the middle. If he does not leave the game with 25 carries, the Browns  have something in their Cheerios.

10)   I've been as hard as anyone on Edwards this year, and one good example why is that block-in-the-back penalty. It was a killer. And there was no reason for it. It was just ridiculous (did we mention it was ridiculous?). A coach can teach and coach and preach and threaten all he wants, but if his players commit penalties like that one (and like Adams' personal foul) the coach may as well be talking about Parcheesi. Because if the players don't listen, it doesn't matter.

You're An Idiot

Alan, one of my regular commenters/tormentors on this flog, asked last week: "Why has the previously promised weekly ‘You Are An Idiot' portion of First and 10 failed to appear? Much like the Browns, I guess your unfulfilled promise was nothing but hype."

Quite frankly Alan, it did not appear because nobody was calling me an idiot.

I call that "reader oversight."

Ted did write and say this, though: "Pat, once again you are not an idiot; I am. For watching these Browns."

Three and Out

Dear Pat,

Romeo Crennel not only inherited a team that was in disarray, but also the decades of frustrations of fans who have been let down by three professional franchises.  The irony is that these fans want to win now, but they want a new coach every few years.  This means that a new scheme will have to be implemented, which and (if it does work) may not produce results for two-to-four years.   People are stuck on a Super Bowl winning coaching coming in and setting up a Super Bowl winning franchise.  I ask the fans, how many times in NFL history has this happened?  In the last 20+ years it has only happened to Joe Gibbs.  Even in his case, fans wondered if the game had passed him by before he won his second Super Bowl.

I guess I see Romeo's situation to be similar to several other coaches in the league.

I remember in the early to mid-90's when Cleveland fans said that Bill Belichick didn't have the demeanor to be a good head coach.  He didn't express fire on the sidelines when mistakes were made.  He couldn't motive players to play hard for him.  Not to mention that he drove out a fan favorite.   What changed?  He tweaked his philosophy a bit when he got another chance as a head coach.

Tom Coughlin was under heavy fire after losing the first two games last year (not to mention people questioning Eli Manning).  This was preceded by a year where the team underachieved and players questioned his coaching ability.  They said he was too strict.  What changed?  He tweaked his coaching philosophy.

So now, Cleveland has a defensive minded coach who is being questioned by fans for the (lack of) defense. What Coach Dungy…wait, that was a Freudian slip because the same questions were asked of Tony Dungy before he won a Super Bowl.  What Coach Crennel needs is …

-an attitude changing player on defense, like a Ray Lewis.
-a young secondary to mature
-a defense to tackle and make plays in general
- his back-up players to step up until the wounded players return.
-his star receiver to put aside his press clippings and life outside of football, and go out and just play.
-his quarterback to be confident in himself, to let the world know that he is the man for the job and to make better throws and decisions when the team needs him the most.

Crennel is not blameless in this.  He needs to develop better discipline with his team.  He needs to tweak his philosophy a bit before it is too late, just like the other students under Parcells.

I guess I believe Crennel can win because his players still want to play for him, and you have two Super Bowl winning coaches (Belichick and Parcells) who say he is a good coach and they believe in him.

As I tell fellow investors (all too often I guess), you can't set up a successful business overnight.   There will be times of frustration, and many questions. It takes time, and there will be setbacks.

Thanks,

Will

Akron

Dear Will,

Good letter, however given the prevailing mood in town I think folks may be putting you in the "You're An Idiot" section with me. Be nice to have company!

Dear Pat,

Everything in your Monday article was dead on, but you missed one more thing that makes this kind of play even harder to take. In each of the three ridiculous losses so far, at some point in the game, while the Browns were being outplayed, outcoached, out-strengthed and out-finessed, one of the wannabes posed and primped on the field after making a routine play.

Where do you lay THAT? At Romeo's feet. Next to the horrendous play calling and players not knowing when they are supposed to be on the field. They looked like they ran the same play on 1st down 75% of the time. Anderson still looks at his receiver too long, but what's the difference when they drop the ball anyway.
It'll be 2-14. Write it down.

Eddie Vidmar

Dear Eddie,

The histrionics of players on the field has gotten to such absurd levels a guy can drop the ball at the 1-yard-line on Monday night football and it's hardly noticed.

There is such a "me" emphasis sometimes it's enough to make a person turn to soccer.

Dear Pat,

Enjoy your work. My question is, how would you rate the job Phil Savage has done? A team playing this bad can't simply be the head coach calling bad timeouts or not being emotional enough.

This team lacks talent on defense and its highly rated offensive line looks suspect. How many of Phil Savage's draft picks are in the NFL? His picks from the third round on have been shaky.  It takes more than drafting No. 1 picks right to build a team. Oops looks like they haven't done that right either, (Kamerion Wimbley).

You can fire the head coach, and should fire the head coach, but this ORGANIZATION looks weak to me.

Eric Graham

Dear Eric,

As I've stated often, there is plenty of responsibility to be shared right now, and the head coach can't do much with receivers who are not threats, with immature stars and without a legitimate secondary. Think Carson Palmer isn't looking forward to Sunday?

(Want to be recognized in "Three and Out"? It's a rare treat. Comment here or send an e-mail to pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com, and put "First and 10" in the subject line)

How do the Browns go from leading in the first half to being blown out of Baltimore in the second? Turnovers and silly penalties. Leading 10-7, Ray Lewis blew up Kellen Winslow on a short reception. Winslow was pretty much set up by Anderson, who led him right into Lewis, whose big hit led to Winslow giving up the ball and it being intercepted. That play seemed to energize the Ravens, who intercepted Anderson on the next possession and returned it for a touchdown. Then Braylon Edwards negated a first down run with a block in the back and Mike Adams retaliated after a punt, giving Baltimore good field position. The Browns did not play smart, well or physical. They deserved to lose.

Some other thoughts:

–Here's another example of silly play. Leading 7-0, the Browns had the ball. They committed two false start penalties and had to punt. A short punt gave the Ravens a short field, and they scored to tie the game. Just not smart.

–Baltimore's scoring drives were 43, 12 and 35 yards. Their other touchdown was an interception return.

–Ed Reed has to be on the list of Browns-killers. Seven of his 35 interceptions have come against the Browns. Two of his four touchdown returns off picks have also been against Cleveland.

–I don't go to Brady Quinn in Cincinnati. I give Derek Anderson one more chance. But I do give Quinn more reps in practice and if Anderson falters again, I make the call to Quinn. If Anderson is going to play this way, he's not going to be around past this year so there's no sense in not going to Quinn.

–This year Anderson has completed 47 percent of his throws, with two touchdowns and four interceptions. That's not good enough. And though it's not all his fault - when does Braylon Edwards come out of his slump? - Anderson is also not helping his cause.

–Is Romeo Crennel's future in doubt? Well, he's 0-3 and when he got his contract extension this offseason he was asked what it meant to him. "It means," he said, "that I've got to win this year."

–Kellen Winslow got held pretty blatantly on a pass across the middle in the third quarter. That miss hurt the Browns, as did Anderson missing a wide open Josh Cribbs down the sidelines in the fourth quarter.

–What in the world is with Donte' Stallworth.

–Sunday's game in Cincinnati - it's between two 0-3 teams to see who will get out of last place.

–Said Hank Fraley when asked if the team still could think playoffs, "We need to think about a win. If we win, then we can think about playoffs."

The latest loss to Pittsburgh had barely ended before the e-mails started rolling in.

"I dare you to defend Crennel," one wrote.

"Romeo has got to go," said another.

"When you have the ANNOUNCERS criticizing the coach's decision, it is not good," said a third.

First, announcers make their living criticizing coaching decisions. They can get away with it - unlike us newspaper mopes - because their networks pay godzillions of dollars to broadcast the games.

Second, if Romeo has to go, there are bathrooms in the locker room.

Finally, I will defend Crennel the man. Steadfastly. This is a good man, a good father, a good grandfather. His steady hand had much to do with the team's success a year ago. He is worthy of respect because of the way he lives his life and conducts himself. He's the kind of coach you wish would win, because not all coaches have the same quality of character. Personally, there's not a better place to start when choosing leaders.

But good men do not always make decisions I think are the best. Sometimes they're right, sometimes they're not right.

Crennel's decisions with every key field goal/touchdown situation in this short season have been different from the ones I'd have made.

We've already discussed Dallas. End of the first half against Pittsburgh, I'd have taken the points - and there are witnesses in the press box who heard me say it before the interception.

Late in the game, I wasn't as sure. Crennel seemed to have his reasons for making the score 10-6 with 3:24 left. He was counting on his defense.

In one sense, this is the way Crennel coaches.

He trusts his players. He asks them to do something, and they either do or don't. It's a reason his players like him so much. Players appreciate trust.

Sunday night his players did not return the trust. They let Pittsburgh just about run out the clock. Same with the pre-half time decision to go for the end zone. He trusted his quarterback, and his quarterback did not respond.

But the more I think the more I think I would not have tried for the field goal in the fourth quarter.

Because no matter what, the Browns needed a touchdown. They were down seven. If they make the field goal, they're down four and need a touchdown to win. If they don't get the first down, they're down seven and need a touchdown to tie. And if they get the first down and go on to score a touchdown, they're tied and win with a field goal.

In every scenario, they need a touchdown.

And the worst situation is that if they get a touchdown the Browns are tied.

No matter what happened offensively, the Browns defense had to stop the Steelers and the Browns had to score a touchdown.

So me, sitting in the booth, not being on the sideline, not being in meeting rooms, I'd have gone for the first down in the fourth quarter and the field goal in the second.

Crennel didn't.

And the thing about sports is that decisions are sometimes played out on national TV with millions watching and announcers commenting. Ultimately, he'll be judged on these decisions.

I find it interesting today, though, that Mike Shanahan is being feted as a hero and for his guts for going for two to beat San Diego.

Clearly he deserves some credit.

But Shanahan went for two because he had no confidence in his defense. And he got to go for two because of a gift call and another quirk in the replay system that negated a turnover that would have won the game for San Diego.

He went for two; bully for him.

But his players backed him up by making it.

Browns players did nothing to help their coach. Through two games all we've seen from this team is hype and talk.

If Braylon Edwards wants to be an elite receiver, he doesn't drop key passes - most especially the third-down slant prior to the field goal.

If the Browns want to win, they recover the botched kickoff return and they don't let Ben Roethlisberger stand in the end zone for 10 seconds before he throws.

If they want to win, they don't give the other team 20 yards in penalties on a night when offenses need every yard, they line up properly on onside kicks and they manage a two-minute drill with a sense of professionalism.

If this, if that. If, if, if, if … if.

Crennel did not make decisions I would consider wise.

But he had a lot of help in losing that game.

Way back on Aug. 26, I wrote that when a guy has swelling in his knee it usually means a tear of some sort – and typically it’s cartilage. Yes, this is shameless self-promotion, but it took no great genius to say that was Sean Jones’ problem back in preseason. He had swelling on his knee. Now, a few weeks later, he’s having surgery to fix cartilage problems and will miss at least a month. I would guess that Jones wanted to try to play through the problem and discovered he couldn’t. That’s about the only explanation for Jones and the Browns not taking care of this situation in preseason. This has been painted as a huge loss, and it hurts, but Jones was hardly playing at full-speed in the opener. It’s just another problem to put on the pile, a pile that is starting more and more to look like this may be one of those years.

Donte Stallworth has a strain, not a tear of a muscle. This remains one of the strangest injuries I’ve come across in 82 years of covering the NFL, a guy pulling up lame in pregame workouts. Suffice it to say that Stallworth’s teammates were not thrilled when they discovered he was not on the field last Sunday. It would have been nice if Stallworth had shown up in the open locker room session with the media on Monday or Wednesday to discuss the matter, but he didn’t.

There was a serious discussion going on between some of the team’s equipment guys at the entrance to the team’s locker room on Sunday about the battery in the receiver of Derek Anderson’s helmet. Apparently that malfunction caused much angst. Understandably. Does this stuff happen to other teams?

I know there’s no sense in tearing up a roster after one game, but there is sense in adding viable players. Me, I’m not sure about Ty Law, but I hear he can still play. New England claimed Deltha O’Neal off waivers and he was a big contributor in week one. One guy I’d sign yesterday would be wide receiver Joe Horn. He’s a veteran who knows the game and (gasp) catches the ball. Who looks better in the slot? A guy like Horn, or the Steve Sanders/Syndric Steptoe combination the Browns used in the opening game. Enough said.

Lots of rumors flying that the coaching staff is pushing hard to add a couple veterans to areas of need – guys like Horn and Law. The front office is sticking with the roster as it’s built. I’m not sure if those rumors are true, but Marla Ridenour tells me Horn’s agent says he has not heard from the Browns at all. This one I don’t get. Take away Joe Jurevicius and (now) Stallworth and things are not pretty at receiver. The Browns have an opportunity to do something this season. To bypass a chance to try to get better does not seem to help the cause.